MPCA to host public meeting Oct. 9 on state wastewater permit for Jordan Sands in Mankato area

Rochester, Minn.--The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) invites the public to an informational meeting Oct. 9, 2014 on the draft state wastewater discharge permit for a proposal by the Jordan Sands Company to mine silica sand at an existing quarry near Mankato.

The meeting is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Mankato Room of the Mankato Place Mall, 12 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato. The meeting will start with an open house for informal discussion, followed by a formal presentation at 7:15 p.m., with time for questions and answers.

Jordan Sands proposes to redevelop an existing aggregate mining operation on property in Lime Township in the northern part of Blue Earth County. The site has previously been mined for gravel and rock used in construction and other industries. The proposed project will be a continuation of mining these materials, with the addition of silica sand mining and the construction of sand processing and rail loading facilities. The project would eventually encompass just over 200 acres, with about 70 acres actively mined.

The proposed project received an air emissions permit from the MPCA in October 2013, for which there was a public meeting held in Mankato in June 2013. The purpose of the currently scheduled meeting is to present the draft wastewater discharge permit for public review. This permit regulates wastewater and stormwater proposed to be discharged from the facility.

The draft permit authorizes a dewatering discharge averaging 2.88 million gallons per day, of uncontaminated groundwater and stormwater, to an unnamed creek which runs to the Minnesota River. Stormwater from the rail infrastructure area would be treated in a series of three settling ponds which would discharge to an unnamed ditch. Process wastewater would be held on-site and discharged annually at the end of the mining season.

The permit is open for public comment through Oct. 27, 2014. Comments on the draft permit must be received in writing at the MPCA (care of Theresa Haugen) by 4:30 p.m. on that date. A copy of the public notice is available on the MPCA website under “public notices” and then Sept. 25, or by contacting Theresa Haugen at the MPCA, 218-316-3920 or theresa.haugen@state.mn.us.